Refrigerating apparatus



March 21, 1944. A. A. KUCHER Filed Feb. 28, 1940 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 March21, 1944. A, AJKUCHER 2,344,706

REFRIGERATING YAPPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 52 6 aINVENTOR.

. A TTORNEYS March 21, 1944. A uc 2,344,706

REPRIGERAT AAAAAAAAAA US Patented Mar. 21, 1944 f UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS ndrew A. Kucher, Dayton, Ohio, assignorto General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware w 7 Application February28, 1940, Serial No.321,269

9 Claims. (Cl. 257-3) system for use in air conditioning systems.

One object of this invention is to provide a portable air conditioningunit which comprises a plurality of individual sections which may bereadily assembled as a unit at the point of use.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatusfor conditioning the alt for private homes and the like.

Another object of is invention is to provide an improved arrangement fordistributing the conditioned air to a plurality of separate rooms.

Still another object of my invention is to prolike, it is tobeunderstood that several of the features of my invention are of generalapplication. In the particular embodiment shown, the

' as to be assembled'at the point of use.

air conditioning unit generally designated by the reference character Icomprises a plurality of sections i2, i4, I6 and i8 whichare so designedAsbest shown in Fig. 3, thesection i2v comprises a refrigerantevaporator-20, a water-cooled motor-compressor-condenser unit 22 and acasing member 24 which forms one portion of the exterior casing of thecompleted unit. The casing member 24 supports the entire volatilerefrigerant system including the evaporator 20, the water-cooled vide anair conditioning system having improved l motor-compressor-condenser n tth ed a n al g wr restrictor 2|, and all the connecting refrigerantStill another object of this invention is to prolmes- These units; Willbe P d Out herevide a new combination of elements which makes n fter,are of light weight com c design it possible t use t refrigeratingsystem a whereby that portion of the system which is supgreater portionof t year ported by the casing section 24 is of relatively j-tioningapparatus. Further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present inventionis clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the air conditioning apparatus with parts brokenaway so as to show ..-the arrangement of the elements within thecabinet;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the same with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the sectional unit which supportsthe volatile refrigerating system; l Fig. 4 is a perspective viewshowing another sectional unit which supports the water coil and the airfilter; t

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the blower unit;

Fig. 6 is trols;'

Fig. 7 is a view-partly in elevation and partly a diagrammatic viewshowing the conlight weight and small in size so that it may be carriedupand down stairways and, it necessary, passed through relatively smallwindows or other openings. 7

. As shown in Figni section i4 comprises an outer shell 26 whichsupports a water coil 28. As

' shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a filter element 32 is also in section showingthe arrangement of thefair carried by the section 14 and is disposedbetween the louvered air inlet opening and the water cofl Z8.

The sections I2 and 14 rest on thebase sections it and i8 which aredesigned so as to deaden the noises produced by the compressor and theblower mechanism. The blower 34 and the blower motor 36 are removablysupported on the section l6 and may be transported separately from thesection J6. The sections l6 and I8 are lined with sounddeadeningmaterial 38 so as to absorb noises produced by the mechanical parts ofthe system and noises produced by the air flowing through the unit. Byvirtue of the above described arrangement, each of the sections i2, l4,l6 and I8 may be separately carried to the point of use and may 1 beassembled at the point of use with very little difliculty. A pair ofcover members 40 serve to enclose. the upper side of the sections l2 andI4 and also assist in holding the sections i2 and I4 in properrelationship. Any convenient means within the attic space or the like ofa private for conditioning air ior private homes and the 55 home. Theair to be conditioned is admitted to the attic space from the outsidethrough one of ing 30 and then thermal exchange relationship with thewaterthe attic windows or any conventional air inlet leading to theattic. The air is first caused to enter the air conditioning unitthrough the openpasses through the filter 32 into coil 28 and theevaporator 20. The air thus cooled is then picked up by the blower 34and is discharged into the sound-deadening section Hi from whence itflows into section l8 through the openings 42 and 44 located at oppositeends of the baiiie 45 of the section l6. Rather than providing specialair ducts for distributing the conditioned air to the various rooms, thehallways, stairways, door openings, windows and, in some cases, boosterfans are relied onto distribute the conditioned air. The conditioned airleaving the chamber l8 discharges downwardly through an opening 46 whichis in registry with the passage 48 leading to an air distributing grillearrangement 50 preferably secured to the first or second floor hallceiling depending upon the type of home being conditioned. As shown inFig. 7 the air leaving the discharge grille 50 is caused to flowsubstantially horizontally along the ceiling until striking the sidewalls of the hall from whence the air sweeps downwardly in front of anydoorways or other openings leading to rooms adjoinin the hallway.Inasmuch as this apparatus is designed for use in many different typesof homes, no special arrangement/of hallways, rooms, etc., has beenshown as this will be different in practically every home.

In order to obtain proper distribution of the air into the various roomsof the home the necessary doors and windows are left open so as toprovide the necessary flow of air. It should be noted that this airconditioning system is designed primarily to condition fresh air onlyand therefore no means has been provided for returning the air from therooms to the inlet of the conditioning unit. Under certaincircumstances, however, it may be desirable to provide means forrecirculating a portion of the air from the rooms. Any conventionalmeans may be used for recirculating a portion of the air if desired.

In order to increase the usefulness of the volatile refrigerating systemand the water coil, 9. novel control arrangement has been provided asshown in Fig. 6 whereby the refrigerating apparatus and the water coilmay beused for either heating or cooling the incoming air as explainedhereinafter.

In many localities there are certain times of the year when thetemperature falls below that desired for comfort without becoming coldenough to require the operation of the usual winter heating system. Atsuch times it is intended that the apparatus disclosed herein will serveto temper the air sumciently to produce-comfort.

The water temperature in most localities is sufliciently nearthe airtemperature desired so that this water may be used for cooling hotoutside air during the hot weather and it may likewise be used forincreasing the temperature of cold outside air during the colderweather. So long as the water temperature is below the outside airtemperature this water can be used in cooling the air. Likewise, so longas the water temperature is above the outside air temperature, thiswater may be used for imparting heat to the air.

The controls provided make it possible to utilize the water coil notonly during the cooling cycle but also during the heating cycle.

from any suitable source such as the city water mains enters the unitthrough the line 52 which s to the branch lines 54 and 56, which M: 60respectively. The branch lines 54 and 56 communicate with the line 62leading to the three-way solenoid valve 64 which directs the incomingwater either through the water coil 28 or the b'y-pass 66 around thewater coil 28. The

The water leaving the coils I0 discharges into' the drain line 14 whichmay also serve to drain away the condensate collecting in the drip pansl6 and 18 (see Fig. 1). The drip pans are provided with drain pipes 80and 82 whichmay be connected either to the drain 14 or to a separatedrain.

The volatile refrigerant system which includes the heat exchanger 20,the fixed restrictor 2| and the motor-compressor-condenser unit 22 isdesigned so as to be capable of operation as a reverse cycle refrigerantsystem. By using a volatile refrigerant system in which the flow ofrefrigerant between the condenser and the evaporator are controlled by afixed restrictor and in which the compressor is capable of operating ineither direction so as to cause that heat exchange element whichnormally serves as an evaporator to serve as a condenser, it is possibleto use a simple volatile refrigerant system for either cooling the airor heating the air. The fixed restrictor 2| may be of the type disclosedin the Kucher Patent 2,063,745, or of any other conventional fixedrestrictor design. It is important, however, to use a fixed restrictoras distinguished from an expansion valve in which the flow ofrefrigerant through the valve is controlled by the therefrigerantcircuit. The coils of the heat exchanger 2i]v are arranged so as topermit the refrigerantgcondensedtherein to drain into the line leadingto the flxedrestrictor 2|. Inasmuch as this s'ys'tem is designedprimarily for cooling the air, I have provided a. compressor which is sodesigned as to operate more efiiciently during the cooling cycle thanduring the heating cycle.

In the ordinary four-vane compressor, a considerable sacrifice inefllciency results when the inlet port and the outlet port are of equalcircumferential extent. As shown in Fig. 8, the compressor comprises aconventional four-vane rotor 84 which operates within the pumpingcylinder 86. The rotor 84 is operated by the electric motor 81 having astator 89 and a rotor 90 located within the hermetically sealed casing12. During the cooling cycle, when the heat exchange coil 20 serves asan evaporator, the port 92 serves as the inlet port and the port 94serves as the outlet port. During the heating cycle the port 94 servesas the inlet port and the-port 92 serves as Water the outlet port. Anauxiliary port 96 having a vided with the pressure actuated valvesreed-type valve 98 is provided as an excess pressure relief means duringthe starting of the compressor for the cooling cycle. 7

The direction of rotation of the motor 90 and consequently the directionof rotation of the fourvane rotary pump element 84 is controlled by athermostat I00. Any conventional motor which is capable of operating ineither direction may be used. Inasmuch as motors of this type are wellknown in the art, the specific details of the motor have not beendescribed in detail. This instrument may be located so as to respondeither to the outside temperature or the inside temperature. The bulb Iis connected to the bellows I02 which actuates the motor reversingswitch mechanism I04 and the switch I06. The switches I04 and I06 areshown in the position calling for cooling. f

Inasmuch as there may be times when neither heating nor cooling isrequired, a separate thermostat I08 is provided which turns on and offthe entire system. This element I08 may be located.

eitherinside or outside, preferably inside, however.

In order to control the three-way valve 64 which controls the flow ofwater through the water coil 28, I have provided a switch IIO which isoperated by a pair of opposed bellows H2 and H4. The bellows H2communicates with the thermostatic bulb H6 filled with a volatile fluidand placed so as to respond to the temperature condition of the incomingair. The bellows H4 is controlled by a similar thermostat bulb H8 whichis responsive. to the temperature of the incoming water.

With the switch I06 in the position shown, the solenoid valve 64 will beenergized when a circuit is closed between the contact I20 and thecontact I22. The contact I20 engages the contact I22 whenever thetemperature of the incoming water is high and the temperature of theincoming air is low. By virtue of this arrangement,

when cooling is desired the water is caused to by-pass the coil 28 atsuch times when the water temperature is high and the incoming airtemperature is low, under which conditions the water would be of noassistance in cooling the air.

Whenever the air conditions cause the switch I to move to the oppositeposition from that shown in Fig. 6, the solenoid valve 64 is energizedonly when tne contact I20 is in engagement with the contact I24. Byvirtue of the arrangement described hereinabove, the circuit between I20and I24 is closed only at such times when the temperature of the outsideair is high and the temperature of the incoming water is low. Thepurpose of this arrangement is to avoid contacting a stream ofrelatively warm air with water at" a lower temperature when heating isrequired;

The amount of water flowing through the water line 62 and consequentlythe coil 28 or by-pass 6t and the water condensing coil I0 is undercontrol of the pressure responsive valves 58 and 60. These valvesrespond:to the refrigerant pressure within the refrigerant system. Thevalve responds to the pressure in a line leading from the fixedrestrictor II to the heat exchange coil 20, whereas the valve58 respondsto the pressure in the line leading from the condensing cavity II andthe restrictor 2|. These valves are designed to open wider as thepressure within the refrigerant system increases. By virtue of the beclosed. The valve 58, however, will respond to the pressure in the lineleading from the condensing chamber II to the fixed restrictor 2| whichcorresponds to the condenser pressure. Consequently, as the condensingpressure increases, the valve 58 will admit more water through the waterlines. As the cycle reverses and the volatile refrigerant system is usedfor heating the air, the pressure in line 59 becomes low and the valve58 closes, whereas the pressure in line (H will correspond to thecondenser pressure with the result that the valve 60 will be open anamount corresponding to the condenser pressure.

In order to simplify the disclosure, only conventional dry bulb controlinstruments have been shown. It is within the purview of this invention,however, to use other types of controls such as wet bulb, humidity oreifective temperature controls.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A conditioning unit of the type adapted to be used in conditioningair forprlvate homes and the like comprising in combination; a completevolatile refrigerant system; a water coil; thermostatic control meansfor controlling the operation of said refrigerant system; and means forcontrolling the flow of water through said water coil comprising a firstmeans responsive to a, refrigerant pressure within said refrigerantsystem and a second means responsive to both the air temperature and thewater temperature.

2. In combination, means for circulating a stream of air to beconditioned, a first heat exchange element in thermal exchangerelationship withsaid stream, a second heat exchange element in thermalexchange relation with said stream, means for circulating a volatilerefrigerant through said first heat exchange element, means forcirculating water through said second heat exchange element when eitherheating or cooling of the air is required, means preventing. flow ofwater through said second heat exchange element when cooling is requiredand the water temperature is high and the incoming air temperature islow, and means preventing flow of water through said second heatexchange element when heating is required and the water temperaheatexchange units, a multiple vane rotary compressor' unit adapted forreversing the direction of flow of refrigerant through said heatexchange units said compressor comprising means formv ing a pumpingchamber, a multiple vane rotor within said chamber, a motor foroperating said rotor, means for reversing the direction of rotation ofsaid motor, inlet and outlet ports in said first named means, one ofsaid ports extending a greater circumferential distance than the otherof said ports whereby said compressor has a greater displacement whenoperating in the one direction than when operating in the otherdirection.

, .4. .A portable air conditioning unit of the type adapted to be usedin conditioning air for private homes and the like comprising incombination, a plurality of sectional elements adapted to be assembledas a unit at the point of use, two of said "sections comprising an airdischarge means lined with sound-deadening material, another of saidsections comprising a complete volatile refrigerant system supported onsaid air discharge means, and still another of said sections comprisinga water coil supported on said air discharge means beside said volatilerefrigerant system, said water coil section comprising an air inlet,said volatile refrigerant section comprising means for discharging theair downwardly into said air discharge means.

5. A portable air conditioning unit for conditioning air for privatehomes and the like comprising in combination, a cabinet, an air inlet insaid cabinet, a water coil adjacent said inlet, a reverse cycle volatilerefrigerant system mounted within said cabinet, means for forciblyflowing a stream of fresh air in thermal exchange relationship with saidwater coil and thereafter with a portion of said volatile refrigerantsystem, means for discharging the conditioned air into the space to beconditioned, means responsive to the outside air temperature forreversing the cycle, and means responsive to the inside air temperaturefor starting and stopping the operation of said volatile refrigerantsystem.

6. In combination; a pair of complementary heat exchange units; amultiple vane rotary compressor unit adapted for reversing the directionof flow of refrigerant through said heat exchange tioning fresh outsideair for private homes and the like comprising in combination, a cabinetadapted to be mounted above the space to be conditioned, a volatilerefrigerant system mounted within said cabinet and including a fixedrestrictor and a reversible compressor for reversing the flow ofrefrigerant through said restrictor, means for forcibly flowing a streamof fresh air in thermal exchange relationship with a portion of saidvolatile refrigerant system, means for discharging the conditioned airdownwardly into the space therebelow, and means for circulating a streamof water in thermal exchange relationship with incoming air andthereafter in thermal exchange relationship with refrigerant in saidrefrigerant system whereby said water first contacts said air andthereafter said refrigerant.

8. In combination, means for circulating a stream of air to beconditioned, a first heat exchange element in thermal exchangerelationship with said stream, a second heat exchange I element inthermal exchange relationship with said stream, means for circulating a.volatile refrigerant through said first heat'exchange eleand the watertemperature is low and the incoming air temperature is high.

9. A portable air conditioning unit of the type adapted to be used inconditioning air for private homes and the like comprising incombination, a plurality of sectional elements adapted to be assembledas a unit at the pointnof use, an air discharge means lined withsound-deadening material, another of saidsections comprising a completevolatile refrigerant system supported on said air discharge means, andstill another of said sections comprising a water coil supported on saidair discharge means beside said volatile refrigerant system, said watercoil section comprising an air inlet, said volatile refrigerant sectioncomprising means for discharging! the air downwardly into said airdischarge means.

ANDREW A. KUCHER.

